Royal Caribbean’s Full-Year Outlook Hurt by Rising Fuel Costs

Associated Press

- Apr 20, 2015 5:00 pm

Skift Take

Macroeconomic factors including currency rates and fuel costs impact on transportation companies across all sectors, however, most fluctuate frequently enough to not drag down the bottom line long-term.

— Samantha Shankman

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. shares dropped more than 6 percent Monday after the cruise ship operator lowered its full-year earnings guidance, stung by a stronger dollar and rising fuel prices.

The Miami-based company’s first-quarter profit climbed from weak results a year ago that were weighed down by one-time items. Its revenue narrowly missed Wall Street estimates.

Royal Caribbean earned $45.2 million, or 20 cents per share, for the period ended March 31. That compares with $26.5 million, or 12 cents per share, a year earlier. The prior-year period was hurt by some charges and costs tied to the sale of its Pullmantur cruise line’s non-core businesses.

The earnings beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 14 cents per share.

Its revenue of $1.82 billion missed the $1.83 billion estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks.

But Wall Street appeared to be focused on the company’s expectations for the second quarter and the full year.

For the current quarter ending in June, Royal Caribbean anticipates adjusted earnings of 70 cents per share. Analysts polled by FactSet predict second-quarter earnings of $1.09 per share.

The company expects full-year adjusted earnings in a range of $4.45 to $4.65 per share. Its previous outlook was for $4.65 to $4.85 per share. Royal Caribbean anticipates the stronger dollar and rising fuel prices will hurt earnings by 36 cents.